By Stan Greene

The City of Santa Monica has extended its emergency order preventing residential and commercial tenants from being evicted for nonpayment of rent, to March 31, 2021.

"As many of our residents and businesses continue to struggle with the devastating economic toll caused by the pandemic, we are committed to helping our community members to stay housed," said Interim City Manager Lane Dilg. "Every vaccine provided and every decrease in hospitalizations provides hope, but we know we still have a long road to travel to full economic recovery. As a City, we intend to walk alongside our community members each step of the way."

You may want to pay your rent anyway. Eviction defense lawyers generally recommend remaining on good terms with your landlord. Landlords are still expected to pay property taxes, and paying them will maintain their good will.

The State of California does have a record of helping landlords collect rents, through strict laws and summary unlawful detainer proceedings. By this summer, most Californians will have been vaccinated, and the City's order may well not be extended.

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Newly elected US President Joe Biden has extended the Federal eviction ban to the end of 2021. The State of California has a rent ban until the end of July, 2021.